Parrikar reviews strategies to counter LoC attacks

On March 20 this year, two militants stormed the Rajbagh police station in Kathua and shot dead a policeman and two personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force.

Defence Minister ManoharParrikar Saturday reviewed security situation in Jammu division before wrapping up his two-day visit to the state.

Focus of his deliberations with senior Army officers was on the strategies to counter Kathua and Samba-type attacks on the LoC in Jammu division that resulted in heavy casualties in the past several months.

Accompanied by Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag and Northern Command Chief Lt Gen DS Hooda, Parrikar flew to Nagrota-based 16 Corps Headquarters from Srinagar Saturday morning. He was briefed about the prevailing situation at International Border and Line of Control in Jammu division.

“He was briefed about the measures taken to counter Samba and Kathua-like militant strikes by GoC 16 Corps Lt Gen K H Singh and other commanders,” an Army official, privy to developments, told Greater Kashmir.

On March 20 this year, two militants stormed the Rajbagh police station in Kathua and shot dead a policeman and two personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force.

The militants were later killed in a six-hour long gunfight.

A day later, two more militants were killed when they opened fire and lobbed grenades at an Army installation in Samba.

“We also told Parrikar that deployments at IB and LoC have been strengthened to avoid further attacks in Jammu region.”

He said that Parrikar was also told about the overall security measures for Mata Vashno Devi Shrine in Katra. “Land issues of Satwari, Army Transit Camp and Jammu University also figured during discussions at Nagrota,” the official said.

He said that Defence Minister also visited forward posts along the LoC in BhimberGali sector of Poonch district for on spot assessment of the situation.

“At forward posts he was given brief about sophisticated gadgets installed at border to counter infiltration by militants,” the official said adding that Defence Minister also visited Infantry Brigade Headquarters in BhimberGali and was briefed by the local Army Commanders on the situation prevailing at LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

“At forward posts Parrikar interacted with deployed troops.”

Later the Defence Minister left for Trikuta Hills and paid obeisance at the Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, before returning to New Delhi.